that she was in deep trouble. Before she had a chance to respond, the kids popped their heads around the refectory door.
‘Can we please go home? Some of us have lives outside of school!’
‘God, kids, can’t we have a little smooch without being hounded by you two?’
‘Oh, gross, Dad!’ Dominic shook his head.
Kathryn stared at her husband. His capacity to lie and smirk in unison knew no bounds.
Once the chaplain had been congratulated, the choir thanked and the pupils dismissed, the Brookers walked along the path back to their house. Dominic and Lydia strode ahead, loosening their chapel-smart ties and rolling down their socks, impatient to shake off ‘geek’ and become ‘cool’.
Kathryn watched Mark saunter along the path with his hands clamped behind his back. His gown billowed behind, giving him a bat-like quality.
‘I thought it went rather well this morning,’ he said. ‘I think people found my address interesting; some were clearly captivated.’
‘If you substitute “long” for “interesting” and “bored” for “captivated” then I couldn’t agree more, Dad!’ Dominic shouted back along the path.
Kathryn watched her husband laugh loudly as he tipped his head back. It was incredible how he allowed – appreciated, even – such frankness and deprecation from the children and yet reacted with such wrath to even the slightest transgression from her.
‘I agree with Dom,’ Lydia interjected. ‘You go and on and on, Dad. Blah, blah, blah. I stopped listening after the welcome bit.’
‘Right, I get it. My children are finally learning the power of combined effort. Well done, kids. Two is definitely better than one when it comes to brain power.’
Dominic and Lydia high-fived each other in a rare moment of camaraderie.
‘Hang on a mo though, kids. Your celebrations may be a little premature. You seem to have overlooked the fact that I am not necessarily outnumbered here. I do have my good lady wife on hand to boost my team numbers.’
‘Actually, Dad, sorry to disappoint you, but I have to say that I saw Mum’s face during your performance today and she looked bored shitless like the rest of us!’
‘Is that right?’
Mark stopped walking and turned to face his wife.
‘Come on, Kathryn, enlighten us. Which were you? Captivated or bored shitless, as our offspring so succinctly put it?’
The three stood facing her. Her children’s faces were open and smiling, but Mark’s eyes were thunderous, his mouth set.
‘Yeah, come on, Mum. Bored shitless or captivated?’
Kathryn studied the trio around whom her world revolved. She practised the correct phrase in her head, mentally forming the words that would placate her spouse and disappoint her children.
It was a split-second lapse of concentration. The briefest of moments when her words leapt from her mouth unfiltered and uncensored. It was done in error.
‘I was absolutely bored shitless.’
Dominic and Lydia doubled over, each laughing hysterically at this unexpected turn of events and delighted that at last their mum was joining in the fun. Dom wiped the tears from his eyes as he put his arm across his mother’s shoulders.
‘That is classic! Bloody classic!’
Lydia put her arm around Mark’s waist, evening out the teams.
Kathryn held her husband’s gaze, which was unwavering despite the physical distraction of the kids.
‘Is that right, Kathryn? Bored shitless, eh?’
Mark narrowed his eyes, trying to better understand his wife’s dissent. He stared as if trying to fathom where this new-found confidence had come from, what had shifted in their universe that meant she felt able to openly go against him. He wasn’t accustomed to being disagreed with and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one bit.
She sought words of solace, tried to find the right words of retraction that would prevent severe punishment later. Try as she might, they remained obstinately hidden, as though a greater force than she was controlling her tongue.
‘Looks like you’re finally outnumbered, Dad!’
Dominic was delighted with the small victory.
‘It would appear so!’
Mark laughed as he released his daughter’s grip. The family continued along the path.
Kathryn felt an overpowering rush of longing for her children. It felt wonderful to be on the same side. She surged forward and put her arms around her children’s backs, clutching at them with outstretched arms and splayed fingers. They chorused in unison, ‘Get off, Mum!’ and ‘What are you doing?’ She didn’t care. The trio stood on the path.
‘I love you both so very much. I am so proud of who you are and I am proud of all the things that I know you will achieve. You are both amazing, my amazing kids! Promise